415 libraries (333 buildings and 82 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

CILIP: libraries report “does not meet needs” – BookSeller. “CILIP chief executive Annie Mauger said the report was not a “robust” enough piece of work from which to draw proper conclusions for the service. She said: “A Tory government made libraries statutory, now here we are with a Tory government supporting a programme that is not giving anything that will meet people’s needs. I feel quite strongly that it is such a limited document in scope and doesn’t change the underlying issue that libraries are being hit more than any other service.”

Libraries must share services and embrace digitisation to survive, says MLA report – Computer Weekly. “Libraries have moved hugely with the times to embrace things like computer clubs, homework groups for young people without online facilities at home and those looking for jobs,” said a Unison spokeswoman.The government must act to stop local authorities rushing through changes to services with no consultation. An investment in libraries is an investment in the future generation,”

“The notion that they can be run by volunteers in an Oxfam style is barbaric. Libraries don’t just lend books! Libraries are conduits and developers of information and bring information and communication skills to practitioners and residents at local and authority level. Libraries are learning centres and offer free access to many services as well as IT. Library buildings are a focus of action and interaction. They are gathering places that reflect a sense of belonging or even ownership among users. They offer welcoming, neutral spaces that provide opportunities for personal, cultural and community development. This helps us to see that the unique offer of libraries is not a single attribute, but the combination of many and this constitutes a powerful engine for community cohesion.” Edinburgh’s street corner universities: libraries don’t just lend books– Public Service. Chief librarian of Edinburgh Libraries speaks out.

Your library = your community – Cathy Grant (Canadian blog). “One of the founding principles of public libraries is that everyone in a community should have the same access to ideas, culture, information and the same opportunities for personal growth which result from this access.”

“People have made an extremely strong link between librarians, libraries and books. This is only natural, but it really sells short the full value of libraries and the full scope of librarian work. Libraries offer so much more than moldy old books. There’s also music, movies, tv shows, video games, and electronic databases that span a whole galaxy of scholarly and practical information unavailable to any level of googling. Additionally, libraries offer free internet access that is utterly vital in many poor and rural communities. As government services migrate online, good citizenship almost requires an internet connection. Libraries also provide a free space for local groups and communities and have been at the forefront of job search training and computer instruction. Coordinating all of this are the humble librarians. We are not mere cart pushers, let me assure you. This job requires a Masters degree for a reason.” What people don’t get about working in a library. See comments too.

Changes

Birmingham – Sutton Coldfield Library closed until further notice due to lack of funding for repairs, may not reopen until 2012. Libraries to increase opening hours but with less staff, relying on volunteers to make up the shortfall (source – email).

Wigan. 2 mobile libraries to close, 1 branch to be run by volunteers, 6 others to have service reduced (may be counted as under threat as further information is received), £1.1m cut (Tally reduced by 3 as 6 originally feared to close). Co-location of libraries considered, opening hour cut – Ashton Library to have “Local Life Centre” within it, Golborne Library to have Day Care services and Life Centre moved in, Hindley Library to move to Day Care centre. Aspull library to be run by volunteers. Atherton Library to move into school. Ince Library to move into Health/Community Centre. Shevington may be run with parish council.

High Court ruling on Brent libraries delayed until October – London24. “Most campaigners would say this has been a valuable lesson in local democracy, or the lack of it. It is astonishing that a Labour council, which represents a party that historically has always supported the provision of free local libraries, should so blatantly disregard the wishes of communities, communities who for the most have put that council in power.”

“This is an important test case and it is clear that the Court is giving it a commensurate degree of thought and attention. Brent has, so far, refrained from taking any significant steps to implement the closure decision under challenge and we understand it will continue to hold back from doing so over the Summer period out of respect for the Court process. Were existing services undermined or imperilled while the case is ongoing, we would, of course, need to take action to protect them such as seeking an injunction. We trust that will not be necessary.” John Halford from the Brent Campaign (Press release).

“I am full of admiration for the excellent work undertaken by the Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries. I think it is very short sighted to close libraries, especially because that is where a lot of children gain and develop a love of books and reading and can extend their repertoire. Sometimes governments and local authorities forget that children are the adults of the future. I am in total support of the court case against Gloucestershire County Council. If left to proceed unchallenged, the Council would clearly be failing in its duties to provide an efficient and comprehensive library service.” Gloucestershire – Julia Donaldson, Children’s Laureate and author of The Gruffalo, meets with Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries – FoGL.

North Yorkshire – Credit union collection points set up at libraries – Craven Herald & Pioneer. Skipton and Cross HillsLibraries have points. ““It is brilliant news that the credit union’s services will be available at the library. This is yet another valuable service being offered to residents and reinforces the important services and facilities the library offers the community.”

Somerset – Tories claim they’ll bounce back after by-election defeat – This is the Westcountry. Conservatives lose seat with c.30% less votes than previously. Lib Dems win. Lib Dem MP says ““I believe this result is a wake-up call to the Conservatives on the county council, who have been implementing some very damaging policies such as closing waste centres and libraries, and axing rural bus routes.”

Suffolk – Three communities unite to save their libraries– EADT. Eye, Stradbroke and Debenham campaigners will form working group to work out how to keep libraries running. ““We had been working together in a shared campaign and we said we could cooperate to share staff and maybe a management structure.”

Waltham Forest – Film and stage star backs campaign against library closure– This is Local London. Sir Derek Jacobi supports Harrow Green Library. “It is with great pleasure that I lend you my whole-hearted support in your campaign to keep Harrow Green Library open. I owe a [great] deal to the Leytonstone library in my early years without which grounding I doubt I would have enjoyed the career that later occurred. Fight the council to the bitter end.”. Day of action planned for Saturday 13th.

Wigan – Mobile service scrapped – Wigan Today. “Under the proposal there will be three kinds of service – Libraries Central for main town centre; Libraries Local in smaller town centres and a slimmed-down version, Libraries Express.”

This entry was posted by Ian Anstice on August 10, 2011 at 10:03 pm, and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Numbers

From 1st April 2017 to end of March 2018, CIPFA reported 127 libraries lost. Since 1st April 2016 to end of March 2017. CIPFA reported 105 libraries closed, bringing the total to 3745 branches. 2015 to end of March 2016: CIPFA reported 121 libraries closed, bringing the total to 3850 libraries. In 2014/15 there was a decline of 106 public libraries, (with 260 static libraries were put under threat of closure/passing to volunteers. 9 mobile libraries under threat in the same period). .

There were 4023 in 2013/14, 4482 in 2009/10 and 4622 in 2003/4. CIpfa have calculated that 121 service points lost in 2015/16, 106 service points were lost in 2014/15, 49 were lost in 2013/14, 74 were lost in 2012/13, 201 in 2011/12, 33 in 2010/11.

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The complete list is on "Tally by Local Authority" page as are other changes to budgets such as cuts to hours, bookfund and staffing. ....
For a list of new and refurbished buildings see this page,

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